Published: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 7:37 p.m.

Principal Kent Parent walked through a pair of doors at Balfour Education Center. The doors led to a bright, modern room that looked much like a fitness center found in the private sector.

The room, to be used by students enrolling in the school's new Fitness Academy, is just another example of Balfour's evolution beyond an "alternative school."

The center now has academies for fire science, automotive, art, business, early childhood and fitness, offering career education and training for students who may not be headed to college. Next fall, Balfour will add the popular mechatronics program.

The shift to more a more technical and vocational center has been taking place for a few years, and is getting a boost from Fitness Academy teacher Mickey Moreno and his friend, actor Ben Stiller.

Moreno has been a personal trainer for 30 years and friends with Stiller for 20 years. Moreno was Stiller's personal trainer for the 1995 film "Heavyweights."

Stiller, star of movies including "Zoolander," "Night at the Museum" and "Madagascar," has taken an interest in Balfour, and in 2012 helped the school in three ways.

Last March, the star donated $36,000 to Balfour from The Stiller Foundation, which helped advance technology at the school. The funds allowed every teacher and student to have access to an iPad for assignments. The school has 170 of the devices.

"The success we saw with that initial deployment of iPads caused us to incorporate that into the entire curriculum," Parent said.

Last year's Balfour students got another surprise from Stiller. This time, the star recorded a personal message for each graduate, which was played at the center's commencement ceremony.

In the fall, Stiller donated another $16,000 to the school, which jumpstarted the Fitness Academy. The school's old gym had holes in the wall, the ceiling was falling, and there was no paint.

"It was a big, empty room with two used basketball goals," Moreno said.

The makeover was drastic. The fitness center holds weight machines, aerobic and boxing equipment and therapy balls. There's a brick fašade on one wall. On the wall at the front of the room is a mural with Stiller's name alongside a silhouette of his character from "Heavyweights," Tony Perkis.

Fitness Academy students will learn the fitness industry inside and out. Interested students at county high schools can apply for the program through their guidance counselors, and will eventually get to work with clients including staff members and volunteers from the community. That won't begin until next fall, Moreno said. Graduates will be qualified to apply for jobs at places such as the YMCA.

"They'll get into the industry with a leg up," Moreno said. "They'll know all aspects of fitness club operation, as well as instruction."

Students will test through either the American College of Exercise or National Athletic Sports Medicine. The test has a cost, but Stiller earmarked $4,000 of the initial donation for that aspect. The other $12,000 went to the gym renovation.

Stiller's contributions to the school have helped in two ways, Parent said. They have drawn positive attention to the school, and also helped Balfour become a place where students can get a head start on entering the workforce after graduation.

"I think it's going to be a nice niche for those students going directly into the workforce from high school," Parent said. "We're serving such a diverse population. The donation from The Stiller Foundation was the catalyst for all of these transitions."

<p>Principal Kent Parent walked through a pair of doors at Balfour Education Center. The doors led to a bright, modern room that looked much like a fitness center found in the private sector.</p><p>The room, to be used by students enrolling in the school's new Fitness Academy, is just another example of Balfour's evolution beyond an "alternative school." </p><p>The center now has academies for fire science, automotive, art, business, early childhood and fitness, offering career education and training for students who may not be headed to college. Next fall, Balfour will add the popular mechatronics program. </p><p>The shift to more a more technical and vocational center has been taking place for a few years, and is getting a boost from Fitness Academy teacher Mickey Moreno and his friend, actor Ben Stiller. </p><p>Moreno has been a personal trainer for 30 years and friends with Stiller for 20 years. Moreno was Stiller's personal trainer for the 1995 film "Heavyweights."</p><p>Stiller, star of movies including "Zoolander," "Night at the Museum" and "Madagascar," has taken an interest in Balfour, and in 2012 helped the school in three ways. </p><p>Last March, the star donated $36,000 to Balfour from The Stiller Foundation, which helped advance technology at the school. The funds allowed every teacher and student to have access to an iPad for assignments. The school has 170 of the devices. </p><p>"The success we saw with that initial deployment of iPads caused us to incorporate that into the entire curriculum," Parent said.</p><p>Last year's Balfour students got another surprise from Stiller. This time, the star recorded a personal message for each graduate, which was played at the center's commencement ceremony. </p><p>In the fall, Stiller donated another $16,000 to the school, which jumpstarted the Fitness Academy. The school's old gym had holes in the wall, the ceiling was falling, and there was no paint. </p><p>"It was a big, empty room with two used basketball goals," Moreno said.</p><p>The makeover was drastic. The fitness center holds weight machines, aerobic and boxing equipment and therapy balls. There's a brick fašade on one wall. On the wall at the front of the room is a mural with Stiller's name alongside a silhouette of his character from "Heavyweights," Tony Perkis.</p><p>Fitness Academy students will learn the fitness industry inside and out. Interested students at county high schools can apply for the program through their guidance counselors, and will eventually get to work with clients including staff members and volunteers from the community. That won't begin until next fall, Moreno said. Graduates will be qualified to apply for jobs at places such as the YMCA.</p><p>"They'll get into the industry with a leg up," Moreno said. "They'll know all aspects of fitness club operation, as well as instruction."</p><p>Students will test through either the American College of Exercise or National Athletic Sports Medicine. The test has a cost, but Stiller earmarked $4,000 of the initial donation for that aspect. The other $12,000 went to the gym renovation. </p><p>Stiller's contributions to the school have helped in two ways, Parent said. They have drawn positive attention to the school, and also helped Balfour become a place where students can get a head start on entering the workforce after graduation. </p><p>"I think it's going to be a nice niche for those students going directly into the workforce from high school," Parent said. "We're serving such a diverse population. The donation from The Stiller Foundation was the catalyst for all of these transitions." </p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>